Razor-strop



W. C. HOWARD.

RAZOR STROP.

Patented July 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM O. HOVARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOWARD MANUFAOTURNG COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAZOR-STRG P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,806, dated July 4, 1893.

Application filed June l, 1892. Serial No. 435,181. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Razor-Strops,fullydescribed and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The object of the present invent-ion is to provide an improved razor-strop of that class of flexible strops adapted to be secured to a fixed support at one end and held by the hand at the other end while in use, and generally known to the trade as swing strops, and especially to provide an improved double swing strop in which the proper tension of both strips forming the strop surfaces is secured, independently of any inequalityin the length of the strips.

For a full understanding of my invention a detailed description of a strop. embodying the same in its preferred form will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and the features of construction forming the invention specifically pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a side view of the leather side of the strop. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the opposite or canvas side of the strop. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section showing in full and dotted lines the strop in two positions.

The strop proper consists of two strips forming the strop surfaces, which may be of any suitable material, but preferably are strips of leather a, and canvas b, the canvas b, being either of a single thickness, as shown, or folded so as to form two or more thicknesses, as common in swing strops; The strips a, b, are secured together at one end by sewing or in any other suitable manner, and the handle is preferably secured to the strips at this end. The handle may be of any suitable material and construction, but preferably a leatherhandle c is used, as shown, this handle being secured to the strips ct, b, so as to retain a fixed position relatively thereto, preferably by sewing the strips a, b, and handle together, as shown.

Each of the strips a, b, is provided between the handle and support with an elastic portion, preferably at the support end, as shown, and this elastic portion may be made of any suitable material and applied in any suitable manner so long as the tension upon each strip during use is brought to bear upon the elastic portion and the two elastic portions are sufficiently independent to permit them to stretch unequally. For simplicity of construction, however, these elastic portions are preferably provided by a single strip of common cloth elastic, the ends of which are secured respectively to the ends of the strips a, b, by sewing, as shown, or otherwise.

The eye, hook, or similar device for attaching the strop to a fixed support may be secured directly to the elastic strip c, or to a part connected therewith, and this eye may be of any suitable material and construction. For simplicity of construction, however, the eye f is preferably formed of wire bent to form a loop passed through the loop formed by the elastic band e, and preferably secured in a fixed position on the band by sewing the two parts of the band together inside the loop, as shown, or otherwise. The eye is preferably formed with a swivel, as shown, so that the strop may be reversed without removing it from the support, but it will be understood that it may be formed without a swivel.

By my improved construction of double swing strop employing an elastic portionv on the strip which stretches least and preferably an elastic portion on each strip,Iarn enabled to secure the proper tension upon the two strips d, b, independently of any unequal length of the strips due to stretching after long use, or otherwise. This feature is illustrated in Fig. 3 which shows a strop having strips of unequal length, the full lines showing the strop in use with the strips brought under tension by a pull on the handle, and the dotted lines the position which the strips may assume on the release of the pull on the handle. It will be seen that I am thus enabled to avoid the objectionable use of a handle or eye sliding on one of the strips, as in the continuous band double swing strops now in use, and this feature of a fixed handle and eye with the elastic portions forms a part of to the strips, and formed in part of elastic my invention, but this is not absolutely essential and a sliding handle or eye may be used without departing from my invention, 5 considered broadly.

`What I claim is- 1. A double swing,` strop having each strip provided with an elastic portion, and having its strips connected together at the handle 1o end substantially as described.

2. A double swing strop having an eye and a handle secured in fixed positions relatively material, whereby the unequal lengthening of the strips is compensated for, substantially I5 as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set iny'hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM C. HOVARD.

Vitnesses:

THos. F. KEHOE, C. J. SAWYER. 

